The director of the Institute of General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Alexander Kudryavtsev, has decided to leave the post of head of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Genetics and Breeding. Previously, he was criticized for speaking at a theological conference, where he said that in ancient times, people lived for 900 years and that sins were the cause of mutations caused by genetic diseases. On June 14, the Office of the Department of Biological Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences granted the scientist’s request, Russian media told the Russian Academy of Sciences.
“Kudryavtsev asked to be relieved of his duties for health reasons, his request was accepted unanimously,” a source from the Russian Academy of Sciences told Russian media. Nikolai Yankovsky, academician, specialist in the field of genomics and biotechnology, was appointed as Chairman of the Council.
It was decided by a separate vote whether or not to thank Kudryavtsev for his work in office. “The majority said that Kudryavtsev worked, the Council worked, why not thank him? But five people voted against, in the end they decided to express their gratitude,” the source explained, adding that the issue of Kudryavtsev’s speech at the theological conference was not discussed in the office.
The bureau’s decision must now be approved by the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In March, at the scientific and theological conference “God – Man – World”, organized by the Minsk and Sretensky Theological Academies, Kudryavtsev gave a report in which he shared his ideas on the structure of the world. In particular, he said that in the past, people’s life expectancy reached 900 years. Kudryavtsev referred to a painting that “can often be found on the Internet”, adding that he “constructed it himself”.
Moreover, according to the scientist, the cause of the mutations that cause the genetic diseases of modern man are sins – “original and personal”. He said that the Universe, created by God in the process of creation, fell into “corruption” due to the fall of people, due to which mutations occur in them.
The words of genetics have caused active discussion in the scientific community and in the media. They also drew attention to the RAS Commission for Combating Pseudoscience at the RAS Presidium,
“… Now we see that in the specialized biological institute named after NI Vavilov, the director was a man who refers to images from an anti-scientific school textbook written by a creationist, literally interprets the Bible and merges into modern ideas about the causes of mutations,” the Commission said in a statement.
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